Multiple spray shower head



July 28, 1936. H. E. SCHNEIDER l 2,049,141

MULTIPLE SPRAY SHOWE HEAD Filed June 28, 1935 Mmy da/zeiden Patented July 28, 1936 MULTIPLE snaar snowaa m enry E. Schneider, Erie, Pa., assignor to Haya Manufacturing Company, Erie, Pa., a corpora.-

tion of Pennsylvania Application June 28, 1935, Serial No. 28,857

The present invention relates to a multiple spray shower head, and more particularly to a head having adjustable, self-cleaning means, and having one or more spray openings of circular, rectangular, or other similar shape, wherein a plurality of grooves or shallow -notches are formed in the outer periphery or peripheries of the spray rings for securing soft and even spray or shower eiiects.

There are on the market at the present time, shower heads, wherein the spray is discharged in ring-like formation. However the present heads do not produce soft and even spray of the quality supplied by the head of the present invention.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multiple spray shower head which is selicleaning.

Another object of thepresent invention is to provide a shower head having a self-contained volume control.

A further object of the present invention is to provide, in a shower head, a water discharge gap, in the form of a ring or similar shape, with the outer portion of the ange or bead of the ring provided with a plurality of grooves or notches, and with the mating or control member which forms the other margin of the gap, as smooth, to produce a soft and even spray.

A still further object of theY present invention is to provide a multiple spray shower head wherein the quality of the shower may be varied to produce a needle spray or a sheet spray, or a combination of both. e

Generally speaking, the head has at its discharge end an annular ilange or periphery which is grooved, a control member mounted to be adjusted axially of the head is moved towards or away from the grooved periphery to control the size of the gap for regulating the type of spray desired. The movable control member might be provided with a water discharge '-opening through it, the periphery of which is similarly grooved, and a second control member utilized for adjusting the gap in the rst control member.

The invention contemplates also the provision of an adjustable volume control, within the casing so that any desired amount of water may be discharged through the shower head, as desired.'

Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a multiple spray shower head, constructed in'accordance with the principles of the present invention, and

Figure 3 is an axial section through the ar- 5 I rangement of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken sub-l stantially in the plane indicated by the line IV-IV of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is an arial view through the head ofgthe present invention, showing it attached to a rigid shower connection, and showing the relationship of the control members when fully extended for clean out purposes.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken l5 stubstantially in the plane indicated by line VI-VI of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is an axial sectional view through a shower head constructed with a single shower gap or ring.

The drawing will now be explained.

The shower head of the present invention includes a casing I, which is made preferably bell shaped, having a ange 2 adjacent its discharge end with which casing is formed an internally extending ange 3 having its periphery provided with a plurality of shallow grooves or notches 'extending generally inthe direction of the length of the axis of the casing. These 'grooves or notches are shown as substantially parallel to the axis of the casing, and are fashioned in the casing by broaching operation.

'Ihe other end of the casing I is provided with a neck 5 which is threaded on its exterior to receive a coupling for connecting the casing to a swivel pipe connection or to a rigid pipe connection.

Figure 1 and 2 show the casing I secured by means of a swivel connection, to a pipe 6. The illustrated form of casing comprises a nipple l having its skirt 8 threaded over the end of the pipe 6 and having a substantially spherical head 9. The head is bored at I0 to afford communication between the pipe 6 and the casing head I.

Within the neck 5 of the casing is a washer II against which the extremity of the head 9 of the nipple l rests, and cooperating 4with the head 9 is aring nut I2 adapted to engage the threaded neck 5 of the casing I for connecting together the casing and the head 9 in desired angular position of adjustment.

The head casing I is provided with a transverse partition I3 which is centrally apertured at IB, with the aperture threaded, and provided witha plurality of`other apertures I5 through it for Cil Water passage to the discharge end o! the head l. Between the partition |13 and the neck 5, the casing is counterbored and threaded at I6. Within this portion 6 is threaded a ring nut I1 having suitable screw driver slots in it for manipulation, which is adapted to be moved towards and away from the partition I3 to cover or expose the apertures I5 in the partition, and thus regulate the volume of water passing to the discharge end of the head I. For the purpose of locking the ring I1 in adjusted position, another ring I8 is employed, which is also threaded in the part I6 but is of less radial thickness than the ring I1 so that when the ring I8 is relieved from against the ring I1, the ring I1 may be rotated, by means of a screw driver, without removing the ring I8 from the casing I. When the ring I1 has been rotated to proper position the ring I8 is then tightened against the larger ring I1 in adjusted position.

Figures 1 to 5 inclusive illustrate a shower head having two concentrically arranged and radially spaced discharge gaps or rings. For controlling flow of water' through these rings so-called control members are provided.

The control member for regulating spray discharge through the discharge end of the casing I, and with the flange 3 as its outer periphery, comprises a shell I9 which is axially movable within the casing I. The inner end 20 of the shell is provided with openings 2| for water passage. The outer end of the shell is provided with an outer annular flange 22 with its face 23 slightly inclined to its axis and which cooperates with the grooved periphery of the fiange 3 defining the outer ring of spray discharge. The shell I9 is provided with an inner flange 24, the face of which is provided with shallow grooves or notches 25, similar to the notches 4 in the flange 3, and for the same purpose. This flange 24 defines the outer periphery of the inner spray discharge gap .or ring. The grooves or notches 4 and 25 are of uniform depth and width and all are parallel to the casing axis. .i

A second control member 26, for cooperating with the flange 24 of the first control member, is of disc-like formation with its margin 21 inclined, convergently towards the interior of the casing I. The second control member is secured to a stem 28, having its outer `end fashioned with a thumb nut 29, knurled for convenience in manipulation, and its inner part extending through a skirted bore 30 formed in the inner end 20 of the shell I9. The inner end of the stem 28 has a threaded portion 3| which is in threaded engagement with the threaded opening I4 in the partition I3 of the casing I. The inner end of the threaded portion 3| of the stem is counterbored and threaded to receive a screw 32 having its head bearing against the outer surface of the partition I3, to retain the parts in operative relationship. Threaded onto the threaded stem portion 3| is a nut 33 which is so positioned on the stem as to limit the movement of the second control member 26 away from the flange 24 of the first control member, in other words to limit the maximum gap that may occur in the inner shower ring.

Surrounding the stem 28, between the inner end 20 of the shell I9 and the inner surface of the second control member 2B is a spring 34 whose function is to urge the second control member 26 away from the flange 24 of the first control member.

Movement of the first control member, or shell I9, away from its cooperating flange 3 of the casing I, is governed by the position of the head of the screw 32 in the stem 28.

Figure 3 of the drawing illustrates the arrangement of the various parts or control members when the same have been adjusted for sheet discharge. It will be observed that the outer control member, or shell I9 has been moved toward its flange 3 so as to reduce the gap or shower ring, and that the second control member 26 has been moved towards its cooperating flange 24 for the same purpose. 'This movement is accom'- plished by rotating the stem 23 in proper direction, by means of the nut 29. With the control members in the` positions ot Figure 3, a sheet spray is achieved.

If the control members are moved nearer their cooperating flanges the shower discharge is more in the nature of a needle spray. If the control members are moved farther away from their cooperating anges, a greater sheet shower is obtained.

Figure 5 shows the arrangement of the parts when the control members have been moved away from their cooperating flanges, to the limit of such movement, for clean out purposes.

When it is desired to clean out the shower head, the nut 29 is manipulated to move the second control member 26 to its maximum extent of displacement with respect to its flange 24, wherei upon the nut 33 bears against the shell I9 and moves it away from its cooperating flange member 3, to the position of Figure 5. Spring 34 functions to prevent movement of the shell |9, as the nut 29 is manipulated to move the disc or second member 26 away from engagement with the shell, until the shell is contacted by the nut 33, whereupon the shell moves with the nut 29I to the limit of opening movement as determined by the position of the screw 32 in the end of the post 3|. With the parts in this position, admission of water to the interior of the casing head, will clean out any matter that may have become deposited in the head, over a period of use. When the casing head has been properly cleaned, the nut 29 is retated in the opposite direction to return the parts to the position of Figure 3 or to any other position to secure the desired type of spray discharge.

In returning the control element to operative position rotation of the nut 29 will rotate the stem 28, towards the left, as viewed in Figures 3 and 5, until the outer control member or shell I9 reaches its innermost position of travel. This is brought about by the presence of the spring 34 exercising tension on the stem to frictionally hold the nut 33 against the shell I9 until the shell reaches its limit of inward movement. Thereupon continued rotation of the nut 29 will move the second control member 26 inwardly towards its cooperating flange 24.

The control members may be so adjusted as to produce two rings of needle discharge, or two rings of sheet discharge, or one ring of needle discharge and one ring of sheet discharge.

'I'he form of invention illustrated in Figure 7 shows but one shower discharge ring or gap.

In this form of the invention the casing, and its construction is the same as heretofore described. However the control member for the form of head shown in Figure '7 is somewhat dii'- ferent in that it consists of a dise 35 having its margin beveled at 35 to cooperate with the flange 3 of the casing, which disc is formed as a part of a stern 31 having an outer part or nut 38 and an inner part, a portion of which is threaded at Lil 39 for engagement with the threaded opening I4 in the partition I3 of the easing head l. A similar screw 32 is employed for seeming the parts in operative relation. In this form of the invention the movement of the control member 35 is accomplished by proper rotation of the nut 38 to adjust the size of the gap between the flange 3 and the beveled margin 36 of the control member as desired to effect whatever type of spray may be wanted.

For cleaning out the form of Figure '1, the nut 38 is rotated in a direction to move the control member 35 to the right until a suiilclent gap between the control member and its cooperating ange 3 is obtained, whereupon admission of water to the interior of the casing will flush it out.

whereupon the control member may be returned to its proper position foruse as a shower.

The provision of the shallow notches or grooves in the outer periphery of a shower ring or gap has been found to produce a soft, pleasantspray, softer and pleasanter than that provided where the notches or grooves are placed on the control members with the outer peripheries of the rings or gaps smooth.

The shower head casing l, as shown in Figure 5, is attached to a pipe 49, by a rigid connection which comprises a nipple lll having a part adapted to threadedly engage an end of the pipe B0 and another part adapted to threadedly engage the neck 5 of the casing head i.

The shower head of the present invention has been found satisfactory in use in connection with' so-called needle showers where a plurality -of heads are provided for directing the discharge therefrom against different portions of the body of a bather.

It is to be understood, of course, that the head of the present invention is not limited to such use as it readily lends itself to any type of shower desired.

The ridges defining the notches 4 and 25, when the inclined face 23 of the shell I9 is moved against the iiange 3 of the casing and the face 21 of the disc 26 is moved against the inner flange 24 of the shell, are contacted only at their outer ends, the faces 23 and 21 making point contacts with these ends of the ridges.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, yet it is -to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. A shower head comprising a casing having a peripheral iiange at its discharge end, an apertured partition intermediate its ends, a stem threaded into said partition, a control member carried by said stem and by it movable towards and away from said ange for varying the gap therebetween, a water connection connected with said casing for discharging through said partition, ring means adjacent said partition and movable towards and away from said partition for controlling the volume of ilow through it to said gap, and means operable outwardly of said member for varying its position with respect to the flange.

2. In a spray nomle, a casing, a post threaded in said casing and extending axially thereof, a disc-like member xed to said post adjacent the discharge end of said casing, a shell-like member supported on and movable along said post and having a peripheral portion lying between said disc-likc member and casing to provide two spray channels, said casing having an internal flange contactable by'said shell member, the surface of .said ange having a plurality of notches in it of uniform depth and width and all parallel to the axis of said post, the cooperating face of said shell being sloped -divergently outwardly `from the interior of the casing and adapted to make point contact with the outer ends of the ridges forming the notches when said shell is in normal operative position, said shell having an inner annular ange contactable by said disc-like member, the face of said inner annular flange having a plurality of notches in it ends of the ridges forming the notches of said inner shell flange.

3. In a shower bath spray head, a casing formed with a :danged outlet opening, iiow obstructing means within said opening and movable therein axially of the casing, said flange having grooves in it of uniform depth and width and all parallel to the axis of the casing. said obstructingmeans having a flanged part contactable with the grooves to provide jet discharge, the surface'` of said part being smooth 'and being divergently sloped from the interior of the casing, the sloped surface of said part limiting contact thereof with said notched liange to point contact with the outer ends of the ridges forming the notches or toprovide jet discharge, the surface of said part being smooth and being divergentiy sloped from the interior of the casing, the sloped surface of said part limiting contact -thereof with said notched ange to point contact with `the outer ends of the ridges forming the notches or grooves and serving to divert the discharged jets away from the casing axis and smoothing the inner surfaces of the jets, the arrangement being such that the point contact of said sloped surfaces with the outer ends of the ridges forming the notches smooth out ripples in the jets caused by unevenness in the notches incidental to machining of the same.

5. In a shower head, a hollow shell having an inlet and an outlet, a iiow `obstructer axially movable in said outlet, the inner surface of said shell at said outlet being provided witha plurality of broached notches of uniform depth and width and all parallel to the shell axis, and the cooperating face of said obstructer being smooth and sloped divergentiy outwardly from the interior of the shell and adapted to make only point contact with the outer ends of the ridges forming the notches when said obstructer is moved against ment being xed to said post and the outer element being movable axially and rotatably on said post, said casing having an internal ange adjacent its outlet which is provided with a plurality of broached notches of uniform depth and thickness and all parallel to the casing axis, said outer element having an outer peripheral surface which is smooth and dlvergently sloped outwardly and movable against and away from the l outer ends of the ridges forming said notches, said outer element also having an inner flange which is provided with a plurality of breached notches of uniform depth and width and all parallel to the casing axis, said inner element having a peripheral surface which is smooth and sloped divergently outwardly and movable against and away from the notches in the inner flange of said outer element, means interposed between said elements to prevent movement of the outer element away from contact with the notches of the casing ilange until the inner element has been moved a certain distance away from the inner ange of the outcr element by movement of said post in one direction, and means on said post adapted to then contact said outer element and move it away from the casing flange by continued movement of said post in the same direction.

7. A spray head including a casing having an outlet opening, a post threaded in the casing and extending axially of the same, inner and outer spray elements carried by said post, the inner element being fixed to said post and the outer elem: nt being movable axially and rotatably on said post, said casing-having an internal flange adjacent its outlet which is provided with a plurality of breached notches of. uniform depth and thickness and all parallel to the casing axis, said outer element having an outer peripheral surface which is smoothand divergently sloped outwardly and movable against and away from the outer ends of the ridges forming said notches, said outer element also having an inner iiange which is provided with a plurality of breached notches of uniform depth and Width and all parallel to the casing axis, said inner element having a peripheral surface which is smooth and sloped divergently outwardly and movable against and away from the notches in the inner flange of said outer element, means interposed between said elements to prevent movement of the outer element away i'i from contact with the notches of the casing ange until the inner element has been moved a certain distance away from the inner flange of the outer element by movement of said post in one direction, and means on said post adapted 'to then con- 10 tact said outer element and move it away from the casing flange by continued movement of said post in the same direction, movement of the post in opposite direction rst moving said outer element against said casing ange and thereafter mov- 15 ing the inner element against the inner ange of said outer element.

8. A spray head including a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a partition within said casing between said inlet and outlet, said partition hav- 20 ing a plurality of passages through it arranged in circular form about the casing axis, a ring threaded in the inlet and movable towards and away from said partition, the radial dimension of said ring being such as to expose but slight 25 amounts of the said passages when the ring is moved against said partition to thereby effect minimum volume iiow through said head, said ring adapted to be moved away from said partition to aord greater volume flow, and a locking 30 ring threaded in said inlet for locking said rst mentioned ring in desired relation with espect to said partition.

9. A spray head including a casing having an inletand an outlet, a partition within said casing 35 between said inlet and outlet, said partition having a plurality of passages through it arranged in circular form about the casing axis, a ring threaded in said inlet and movable towards and away from said partition for controlling volume iiuid 40 flow through said partition, and a locking ring thrfaded in said inlet for locking said rst ring in desired relation with respect to said partition.

HENRY E. SCHNEIDER. 45 

